Articles 
Another point towards promotion. This time we had to come from 2 goals down after a poor showing for an hour. Leon Best came in for the injured Peter Lovenkrands and we should have had a penalty after 20 seconds when Routledge’s cross was blocked by an arm. City hit back with a Danny Haynes’ looping header which hit the top of Harper’s bar. The same man cut inside to have a shot deflected wide but the home side took the lead when Harper fumbled a Maynard free kick and Nayatanga reacted quicker than any of our players to finish.
Andy Carroll had a chance to level but he put Gutierrez’s left wing cross wide of the target. Kevin Nolan then broke into the box but his shot was also off target. A miscued clearance presented Leon Best with a chance to open his account, however his miscued shot hit the retreating Lewis Carey. Kevin Nolan then sent a 6 yard header straight at Gerkan, but City hit us on the counter attack after we gave the ball away In their box.. A raking clearance was chased by Maynard who was allowed to keep the ball inplay before turning and heading towards goal. With Simpson backtracking he unleashed an unstoppable shot in to Harper’s net. With the first half drawing to an end a neat build up saw Carroll play in Guthrie who dribbled round the keeper but his left foot shot was cleared off the line by Hartley.
The second half began with Newcastle still looking disjointed, Gutierrez drifting all over the place and Harper did well to keep out a Sno effort. Jonas Gutierrez was denied a stunning goal with a superb Gerkan save, the keeper also kept out a long range Kadar strike. We got a lifeline when Gutierrez robbed the left back and took the ball around the keeper to tap into the net and after an Enrique right footer flew wide we equalised when Routledge crossed for Andy Carroll to fire home. From there on we had chances to win the game. Gutierrez poked wide after a mazy dribble. Leon Best saw a header saved by Gerkan and Guthrie found the keeper’s hands with a free kick. Harper then saved a Paul Hartley free kick and Best headed over when under pressure from the keeper. Right at the death Gutierrez went on another mazy dribble but he got forced wide and his left foot shot was saved by the Robins keeper.
An injury (hamstring) to Fitz Hall leaves us very short on centre backs. Expect a loan signing from Hughton this week. Lovenkrands was missed up front where Best continues to struggle. An already tuned in Ranger looks a much better bet at the moment. It took an hour for Gutierrez to get going and his most effective work came from the right wing.
Our away form is where our lead over WBA has eroded, a win at Doncaster would go someway to correcting that.
Newcastle Team:
Harper,
Simpson,
Hall, (Kadar 51 minutes)
Coloccini, Booked
Enrique,
Routledge,
Nolan, (Captain)
Guthrie, Booked
Gutierrez,
Best,
Carroll.
Subs not used:
Krul,
Butt,
Ryan Taylor,
Pancrate,
Ranger,
Donaldson.
Bristol City Team:
Gerken,
Ribeiro,
Carey,
Nyatanga,
Orr,
Elliott,
Hartley,
Skuse,
McAllister (Sno 46),
Haynes (Sproule 85),
Maynard.
Subs not used:
Henderson,
Johnson,
Clarkson,
Akinde,
Maierhofer.
Referee: Andy D’Urso
Man of the Match: Gutierrez’s final 30 minutes was outstanding
Attendance: 19,144
League Position: 1st
